Ready to get back in the swing

New owners hope lower fees, more events help them revive Normanside golf course

By STEPHANIE LEE Staff writer

Published 12:01 am, Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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A view of the Fireside Room at the Normanside Country Club on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are watching the weather to choose opening day. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

A view of the Fireside Room at the Normanside Country Club on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are watching the weather to choose ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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David Hostig, a new co-owner of the Normanside Country Club, poses on the golf course on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are watching the weather to choose opening day. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

David Hostig, a new co-owner of the Normanside Country Club, poses on the golf course on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Erik Smith, the head golf professional at the Normanside Country Club, stocks golf equipment in the pro shop on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. Smith is also the owner/manager of the pro shop and is starting his fifth season as the head golf professional at the course. Smith said that he is getting new products in every day as he stocks up the shop for the season. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are watching the weather to choose opening day. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Erik Smith, the head golf professional at the Normanside Country Club, stocks golf equipment in the pro shop on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. Smith is also the owner/manager of the pro shop and is ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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A view of the golf course at the Normanside Country Club on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are watching the weather to choose opening day. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

A view of the golf course at the Normanside Country Club on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Delmar, NY. The country club is under new ownership and owners plan to open soon, but are watching the weather to choose ... more

The 269-acre, 18-hole golf course on Salisbury Road fell on hard financial times and went up for auction in February. Bidders included the town of Bethlehem, which came up short.

On Monday, the full list of new owners was revealed to the Times Union: Rafael Flores, a local golf course operator; David Hostig, a former salesman and golf enthusiast; Hostig's father, Joseph Hostig Jr., the owner of the Cohoes restaurant Smith's; and his grandfather, Joseph Hostig Sr.

Under the newly formed Normanside Creek LLC, the men plan to kick off the season on Saturday, weather permitting.

"We bought it because we saw value in the country club if it's managed the right way and run properly," said David Hostig, 24, who will serve as director of operations.

Normanside will be run as a semi-private operation, with lowered membership rates and day passes for the public, he said. The owners want to host more weddings and banquets in its dining room, which can hold 230 people.

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Individual memberships will cost $3,000 and family memberships will cost $3,600, Hostig said. The owners hope the lowered prices, which are roughly half the 2010 cost under the previous owner, will bring back old members and attract new ones.

Normanside is also introducing "social" memberships, which will allow access to the pool and member functions, and day passes, which will be $50 on weekdays and $60 on weekends.

Hostig declined to reveal the amount of the group's bid since the sale is still pending. It is expected to be finalized this week. Bank of America set a starting price of $1.3 million and has said that the property drew a high level of interest.

For Hostig, running Normanside is the combination of several interests. The Cohoes resident majored in finance at Siena College and worked as a salesman for RAMSCO, a waterworks and sewer system supplier. He also spent seven years waiting tables at local restaurants The Century House and D'Raymonds.

Though Hostig wasn't a Normanside member, golf has long been his hobby -- he even named his dog "Bogey," a term for a score of 1-over par on a hole.